Three new Easter arrivals at The Monkey Sanctuary

Staff members at The Monkey Sanctuary, which is our flagship project based in Cornwall, have welcomed three new arrivals in the run up to Easter.

The female capuchins by the name of Gucci, Kwango and Kirsty were previously in the care of a small private Sanctuary in Derbyshire but had to be relocated due to the owner’s serious ill health.

Keen to ensure the capuchins would find a safe home for life, The Monkey Sanctuary was the first choice for the previous owner. But the urgency of the transfer meant that the staff at the sanctuary had to act quickly,

“In mid-May we are expecting another new arrival, who is a weeper capuchin by the name of Lodi. This made the transfer of the three females more complicated than usual.” Explains Rachel Hevesi Head of the Sanctuary,

“All new arrivals at the Sanctuary must spend 30 days in quarantine to make sure that they do not bring in anything untoward that may affect the monkeys already at the Sanctuary.  With limited space, the Derbyshire monkeys must complete this quarantine before the other monkey arrives.”

The long-established tourist attraction, opens from April to October offering visitors an intimate insight into a working sanctuary; with the proceeds going to support the rescue and rehabilitation work such as that provided to Gucci, Kwango and Kirsty.

“Prior to entering the quarantine period we require all new arrivals to have a thorough check over by the vet. This helps us to identify their particular needs and as in the case of our most recent arrivals, it can provide some useful insights. Kirsty needs to put on weight and build muscle, Gucci, who was sent to us as a male and turned out to be most definitely a female, has a hair lip and cleft palate and Kwango, the eldest of the three, has arthritis” Continues Rachel.

Busy designing and building new territory for the new and existing monkeys Tjark Platt, site manager at the Monkey Sanctuary says,

“Fortunately, IPPL, a primate welfare organisation, is helping us with the initial costs. But these extra monkeys are going to need more space, which could be for a further 30 years. If anyone can help with a donation, they will know that the money will go towards giving Kirsty, Gucci and Kwango a home for life – and the care and quality of life they deserve.”